Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

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TownTalk: Council Approves Updated Minimum Housing Code

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The Henderson City Council unanimously approved the revised minimum housing code at its meeting Monday, putting in place an updated framework for making sure that dwellings – especially rental properties – are maintained to comply within acceptable guidelines.

“They adopted the code last night with the exception of Section F,” City Manager Terrell Blackmon told WIZS News Tuesday. Section F includes details about local agents, or points of contact, for properties located in the city.

Blackmon said City Attorney D. Rix Edwards is in the process of seeking clarification from the UNC School of Government to make sure the wording in the code is appropriate and follows state laws. “At a later time, that section could be added back to the code, with some adjustments to the language,” Blackmon explained.

During a work session last month, council members reviewed various changes and updates that had been proposed to the existing code; there was some concern about whether the city could require designation of a local contact in case of an emergency repair at a rental home. State law prohibits registrations of rental properties by municipalities and council members wanted to get guidance about the proper language used in the code to ensure compliance with state rules.

At the time, Blackmon said the city may choose to make naming a local contact person voluntary.

Council Member Melissa Elliott told WIZS News Tuesday that the proposed draft had included the word “agent” and council decided to change the term to “point of contact.”

The rationale behind that part of the code, Elliott said, “is just to have someone local that we can reach out to when a landlord has a house that may have an emergency repair or something that needs to be done” and the landlord lives outside North Carolina.

In today’s written correspondence about the outcome from Monday’s meeting, Blackmon said the city could get registered agent information from the Secretary of State’s office or from lease agreements, which residents submit as part of an application to the city’s water department.

The updates to the city’s minimum housing code is just one step that local officials and the larger community are considering as part of revitalization efforts in and around the downtown area.

Henderson Collegiate To Host Teacher Career Fair Thursday, Aug. 11

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Henderson Collegiate is hosting a teacher career fair Thursday morning and is offering a $2,000 signing bonus for any of a number of open positions at the K-12 charter school. Prospective applicants don’t need a  teacher license in hand – just bring a resume.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12 at the school, located at 1071 Old Epsom Rd. in Henderson.

“This is a great career opportunity for a teacher, career changer, or recent graduate,” said Alicia Hawk, director of development at Henderson Collegiate, Inc.

“Henderson Collegiate is one of the top K-12 public charter schools in the state with competitive pay and benefits, and it’s part of the N.C. Teachers & State Employees retirement program,” Hawk added.

Visit https://hendersoncollegiate.org/ to learn more about the school.

Upcoming Blood Drives In Area; Donors Entered To Win Free Gas Card

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There’s a blood drive scheduled for this Wednesday in Oxford and donors are desperately needed to ward off a shortage during the waning days of summer. The drive will be at the Public Works Center from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Public Works Center is located at 127 Penn Ave., Oxford.

Another drive will be held in Henderson on Aug. 26 at Maria Parham Medical Center from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Although 62 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood, only about 3 percent donate, according to Cally Edwards, regional communications director for the Eastern District of the American Red Cross. In addition to blood donations, the Red Cross is in special need of platelet donations.

Anyone who donates during August automatically entered for a chance to win gas for a year, a $6,000 value. There will be three lucky winners. Everyone who comes to give blood or platelets in August will also receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice.

Donors can schedule an appointment to give using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1.800.733.2767).

Vance County Courthouse

Juror Shortage Prompts More Summonses In More Citizens’ Mailboxes

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COVID-19 has been blamed for everything from global supply chain problems to schoolchildren’s lagging academic achievement. And Vance Clerk of Superior Court Henry Gupton said the current lack of jurors for local trials could also be blamed on the virus.

Gupton told WIZS News Friday that for the next five Mondays, the juror pool will bump up to 150 people receiving notices to show up to court for possible jury selection.

“We didn’t have enough Monday a week ago,” Gupton said. Of the 106 summonses that were sent, only 38 people showed up. Some of that number, he said, were excused for medical or other reasons of hardship. “But of those not excused, 38 showed up.”

The summons is not something to ignore, and Gupton said resident Superior Court Judge Cynthia Sturges could step up the process to find out why folks aren’t showing up.

“She’s contemplating how she wants to handle it,” Gupton said, adding that a decision hasn’t been reached yet.

A capital murder trial is slated to begin in Vance County on Sept. 26, but there has to be a sufficient jury pool from which to select a jury. Gupton said the jury selection process could be extended to the first two weeks in September.

“How are we going to administer justice if we don’t have jurors to do it?” Gupton asked.

Sheriff’s deputies could come knocking on your door to find out why you didn’t comply with the summons to appear for jury selection.

“We’ve got to get jurors, there’s no question about that, we’ve got to get jurors,” he said.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Sheriff Curtis Brame

Brame Asks Commissioners For Study To Build New Jail

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Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame continues to work to correct deficiencies at the local jail, but he said the fact of the matter is this: the county needs a new detention center.

Brame addressed the Vance County Commissioners at their Aug. 1 meeting, during which the most recent jail inspection report was presented for review. And he asked commissioners to provide funding for a study to build a new detention center.

“We are in a facility that has long outgrown its needs,” Brame told WIZS News  Friday. “Our detention center is antiquated and outdated,” he said, and noted safety issues – for staff and detainees alike – as a result of the condition of the physical plant.

The most recent inspection was conducted on June 14, and commissioners received the report in the August agenda packet.

The 9-page report included everything from non-functioning locks on food passage doors to dirty showers, but also detailed deficiencies in staff trainings and supervision.

Brame has responded to many of the items in a correction plan that was submitted to state jail inspectors and corrections will be verified during the next inspection.

But the overall physical condition of the jai, located at 516 Breckenridge St., looms larger for Brame. “Over 31 years ago the county decided to renovate the detention
center,” he said in a statement to WIZS. He said the renovations do not meet current standards and needs and he maintains that the jail “is unsafe for both staff and detainees.”

Vance Sheriff’s Office, Kerr-Tar COG Host Bike Rodeo Aug. 13

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The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with the Kerr-Tar COG to host a bike safety rodeo on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The rodeo is designed to test bike-handling skills of children ages 4 to 15 and will be held in the parking lot of the Vance County Courthouse, 156 Church St. in Henderson.

Participants may bring their own bikes, but there also will be bicycles available to borrow for the rodeo.

There will be a free helmet giveaway, as well as goodie bags, Pelican’s snoballs and more!

For more information, contact the sheriff’s office at 252.425.0933.

Terry Garrison

Henderson Gets $5.4 Million For Water, Wastewater Projects

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An additional $5.4 million is set to flow into the City of Henderson to target drinking water and wastewater projects, most of which will go to fund the Sandy Creek Basin Sewer Rehab project.

The money comes from the American Rescue Plan Act and the state Water Infrastructure Authority approved funding for the local projects, according to information from the office of Rep. Terry Garrison, who serves District 32 – Vance, Granville and Warren counties.

In addition to $5 million designated for the Sandy Creek project, two allotments of $200,000 each were awarded to the city to conduct asset inventories and assessment planning for both water and wastewater.

“I am happy to see this critical funding come from the Department of Environmental Quality to Henderson,” Rep. Terry Garrison said. “Clean water is essential for every North Carolinian. This money is going to help Henderson ensure that everyone has access to clean, safe water.”

City Manager Terrell Blackmon told WIZS News Friday that this money will be used to address excess water that flows into sewer pipes from groundwater and stormwater, known as “infiltration and overflow.”

The $5 million is added to $2.5 million, zero interest loan the city got last year from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, Blackmon said.

“The other $400,000 will be used to perform a water study centered around inspecting our water lines…(to) help us better map our system,” he added.

Granville and Warren counties also received chunks of money for improvements to their water systems, Garrison’s office noted.

The City of Oxford got more than $9.5 million to fund sewer system improvements and the South Granville Water and Sewer Authority was awarded $150,000.

Warren County got money for three projects totaling $745,000. The breakdown includes two planning grants: a $189,500 planning grant for a regional elevated storage tank and a $400,000 pre-construction planning grant for the Eatons Ferry sewer extension and $155,500 for the Pleasant Hill pump station replacement.

Community Partners of Hope

Men’s Shelter Opening One Month Early On Path To 12-Month Operation

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The local men’s shelter has gotten the green light to open its doors for an extra month, putting the group a step closer to realizing its dream of being open year-round for those in need.

The shelter, based at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Henderson, is an outreach of Community Partners of Hope.

In previous years, the shelter was open from November through March, with the hope of being able to expand services and there is a campaign underway now to raise the $133,225 needed to make the dream a reality. To date, more than $15,000  has been raised.

Visit the Dream Team Fundraiser Link Here.  

Information in the recent CPOH newsletter stated that Darryl Jones will continue as shelter manager and Josh Stokes will manage weekend duties, but the shelter continues to need volunteers to partner with paid staff to keep things running smoothly. The group is looking at the possibility of adding another paid overnight supervisor.

Community Network Specialist Delthine Watson is pursuing grant opportunities, as well as possible collaboration with other agencies and partners. Watson is available to speak to church and civic groups to share the mission and vision of CPOH. Contact her at specialist.cpoh@gmail.com or 919.339.1462 to learn more.

“Food Farmacy” Coming To Henderson Aug. 7

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A “Food Farmacy” event is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 7 outside Perry Memorial Library, showcasing local produce and producers while promoting health and wellness in rural areas through good nutrition.

The event is funded through a grant from Duke University’s Kenan Institute of Ethics and will feature local community vendors, according to information from Darius Pitt, with Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Dept.

Among the organizations that will be present are The Black Farmers Market and Slice 325. There will be a range of goods and produce, “hand-picked, packed and presented to you,” the publicity flyer notes.

Shop and learn between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the free event. The library is located at 205 Breckenridge St.

Rebuilding Hope To Hold Kids Construction Camp Next Week

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There’s still time to sign up for Rebuilding Hope’s upcoming Kids Construction Camp that takes place next week. The three-day camp is designed to give children in 2nd through 6th grades an opportunity to use tools to create things.

The campers will work through a variety of stations, including Hammer & Nails, Electrical & Plumbing, Block Laying and Building a Birdhouse.

The camp runs from Aug. 1 to Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. A midmorning snack is provided.

Contact Rebuilding Hope at 252.438.5132 or 252.425.5593 or visit http://rebuildinghopeinc.org/